Trump is mad that news outlets he constantly insults are not praising him for a war he started
President Donald Trump is demanding credit from major news outlets for what he calls a win in Iran, slamming the New York Times and CNN for refusing to praise him. According to MEAWW, in a Truth Social post on April 17, 2026, he accused the organizations of scrambling for ways to criticize his administration’s handling of tensions in the Strait of Hormuz but coming up empty.
His frustration boiled over into a direct challenge: “Why don’t they just say, at the right time, JOB WELL DONE, MR. PRESIDENT, and start to gain back their credibility???” The post doubled down on his long-standing claim that media bias is preventing fair coverage of his foreign policy moves.
“They are desperately looking for a reason to criticize President Donald J Trump over the Iran issue, but simply cannot find it,” he wrote. It’s the latest escalation in his years-long feud with outlets he frequently labels as “fake news,” a pattern that has only intensified as the conflict in the Persian Gulf enters a fragile ceasefire.
Trump also took credit for what he called a major breakthrough in the Strait of Hormuz
In a separate Truth Social post, he claimed Iran had agreed to “never close the Strait of Hormuz again,” framing it as a permanent victory. “It will no longer be used as a weapon against the World!” he declared. The announcement came nine days into a two-week ceasefire, following weeks of hostilities that had disrupted maritime traffic in the region.
During the early stages of the conflict, Iran had targeted ships and ports, effectively choking off movement through the strait. Iranian authorities later signaled that commercial vessels would be allowed safe passage during the temporary truce, though Tehran has not publicly confirmed any long-term commitment to keep the waterway open. Trump’s claim of a permanent deal remains unverified by independent sources or Iranian officials.
He also touted progress on clearing sea mines, another major threat to shipping in the area. “Iran, with the help of the US… has removed, or is removing, all sea mines!” he wrote. Earlier reports had noted that Iranian officials were directing vessels to follow specific routes to avoid potential hazards, but there’s been no confirmation that all underwater explosives have been cleared. The U.S. has not released details on its role in demining efforts, if any.
The president’s latest media broadside isn’t an isolated incident
His attacks on CNN and The New York Times have become a recurring theme, often triggered by critical reporting or what he perceives as slights. Just last week, he lashed out at a reporter from NYT during a White House press conference after a reporter asked whether his threats to bomb Iranian targets could be considered war crimes, per Fox News. The question, posed by Times reporter Zolan Kanno-Youngs, visibly irritated Trump, who cut him off mid-sentence.
“You no longer have credibility at The New York Times because The New York Times said, ‘Oh, Trump won’t win the election,’ and I won in a landslide, I won every swing state,” Trump said. “The New York Times has no credibility. The credibility they have is it used to be all the news that’s fit to print. The Old Gray Lady. It was great. But they’re running on past fumes, and you can’t keep doing that.”
The exchange escalated quickly, with Trump accusing Kanno-Youngs of being “fake” and dismissing the outlet’s reporting as inaccurate. An NYT spokesperson later pushed back, calling Trump’s comments “inaccurate attacks” and defending the paper’s coverage of the 2024 election.
“Contrary to the president’s false claims, our extensive reporting and polling during the 2024 presidential campaign captured the race in full, including his advantages,” the statement read. “Mr. Trump himself celebrated this polling and reporting numerous times.”
The spat is just one chapter in a years-long feud between Trump and the Times. Earlier this month, he took to Truth Social to mock the paper over a headline error that misidentified NATO as the “North American Treaty Organization” instead of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.
His dependence on Truth Social is directly proportional to his distrust of traditional news outlets
Trump’s demand for praise over the Iran situation reflects his broader frustration with media coverage, which he often frames as inherently biased against him. His Truth Social posts have become a primary outlet for airing these grievances, allowing him to bypass traditional press channels and speak directly to his supporters. The platform has also been a key tool for announcing policy updates, including his claims about the Strait of Hormuz and sea mine removals.
The timing of his latest media attack is notable, coming as tensions in the Persian Gulf remain high despite the temporary ceasefire. While Trump portrays the situation as a clear victory for his administration, the reality is far more complicated. The ceasefire is fragile, and Iranian officials have not publicly confirmed any permanent agreement to keep the Strait of Hormuz open.
The removal of sea mines, if confirmed, would be a positive step, but the region’s long-term stability is still uncertain. For now, Trump seems content to declare victory and demand recognition, even as the outlets he routinely criticizes remain skeptical.
(Featured images: James Cridland, Ken Lund)
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